Compressible Sealing Strip for Gas Turbine Engine Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealant methods in gas turbine engines increase weight, lead time, and cost, and are time-consuming for in-service support due to the need for removal and reapplication during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A sealing strip made of compressible materials like rubber or closed-cell foam, combined with a hollow tube design and compression features, is used to seal gaps between components, reducing weight and assembly time, and providing a damping effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealant is used to fill the gap, then effective sealing can be produced independently of gap size, but weight increases and assembly time increases due to cure time
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing solution is divided into two distinct components: a pre-positioned sealing strip and a sealant. The sealing strip provides the primary structural seal, while the sealant fills remaining gaps and provides secondary sealing. This segmentation allows the bulk of the sealing function to be achieved by the lightweight strip rather than requiring large volumes of heavy sealant.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing strip is designed as a consumable, pre-formed component that can be easily replaced during maintenance. Rather than attempting to remove and reuse expensive sealant applications, the strip can be quickly extracted and replaced, reducing both material costs and maintenance time while maintaining effective sealing.
2Reliability
If sealant is used to fill the gap, then effective sealing can be produced independently of gap size, but assembly time increases due to cure time
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing strip is pre-formed and pre-positioned in the gap before the sealant is applied. This preliminary action ensures that the bulk of the sealing function is already in place, allowing the sealant to be applied as a finishing step rather than as the primary sealing mechanism. This significantly reduces the critical cure time requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing strip is designed as a consumable component with a service life matching the maintenance interval. During maintenance, the strip can be quickly removed and replaced without requiring lengthy sealant removal or re-curing processes, dramatically reducing maintenance time while maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout the service life.
3Reliability
If sealant is used to fill the gap, then effective sealing can be produced, but in-service support requires time-consuming removal and reapplication of sealant
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into a removable strip component and a bonded sealant component. The strip can be independently accessed and replaced through the gap opening without requiring complete removal of the sealant, allowing rapid maintenance while the sealant provides continuous bonding support.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing strip is designed as a disposable maintenance component that can be quickly exchanged during routine service. This eliminates the time-consuming process of completely removing cured sealant and allows rapid re-sealing, making maintenance as simple as replacing a worn gasket while the sealant provides ongoing adhesive support.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sealing strip solution effectively seals gaps, reduces weight and assembly time, and simplifies maintenance by minimizing the amount of sealant required and facilitating quicker removal and reapplication, while also offering improved damping performance.
Implementation Method 1
A sealing strip made of compressible materials like rubber or closed-cell foam
Implementation Method 2
A sealing strip made of compressible materials like rubber or closed-cell foam
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine having a fan and a bypass duct for discharging airflow from the fan to generate engine thrust. The bypass duct comprises a first component and a second component each having a gas washed surface, the first component being positioned adjacent the second component with a gap therebetween. A sealing strip is positioned in the gap between the first component and the second component distal to the gas washed surfaces of the first and second components. A sealant is positioned between the first and second component proximal to the gas washed surfaces of the first and second components, so as to seal the gap between the first component and the second component from airflow through the bypass duct.